Sandara Park X Hoops for Hope
Sandara Park encourages Singapore youth to shoot for the stars in “Hoops for Hope” campaign. Multi-talented South Korean singer, rapper, actress and television host, Sandara Park, fondly known as Dara to her fans, graced the Basketball Association of Singapore at the Singapore Basketball Centre to kick off the 2026 Fundraising Campaign “Hoops for Hope”. The media engagement event kicked off with President Seah Liang Bing giving a background to the local basketball scene, highlighting it as one of the most popular sports, especially among youth in Singapore. As the national federation for Singapore, BAS is committed to building a robust pathway for young athletes to the national team. “Consistent investment is required to build a successful national team, this requires strong partnerships, and a sustainable eco-system,” Mr Seah enthused. “And the eco-system consists of government agencies, community leaders, corporations, local clubs as well as the fans athletes.” Fund-raising committee Chairman, Kelvin Tan, then explained that the objective of the fund-raising campaign is not just for youth development, but also for coach’s development, national team readiness and to grow basketball in the community. BAS believes this holistic approach is needed to achieve long-term success. Speaking to invited media, Sandara Park shared her reasons for fervent support for this campaign. Her recent experience as a basketball team manager in the popular Netflix series “Rising Eagles”, gave her the opportunity to gain insight into the sport. Being closely involved with a team of Korean celebrities as they underwent gruelling training programmes conducted by Korean basketball legend, Seo Jang-hoon, in an effort to play “real basketball (not just celebrity basketball)” against actual club and collegiate teams. Miss Park shared that seeing first-hand competitive sports helps to develop character and provide valuable life lessons as the team overcame various challenges throughout the season led to her interest in using her platform as a global superstar to champion youth development in sports. Her trip to Singapore was arranged by Dream Fund, a philanthropic initiative that supports disadvantaged youth in their aspirations in the areas of sport, music and the arts, in short, to help youth achieve their dreams. These objectives resonated well with Miss Park, whose music and activities inspire many youths across Asia. “I’m honoured to be invited here, to BAS, and hope that this will go towards helping young athletes achieve their dreams,” Miss Park said as she then signed 3 basketballs that will be auctioned at the upcoming fundraising dinner to be held on the 11th of September at the Park Royal Singapore. Following a photo-taking session, Miss Park, ever the bright spark of any event, gave young athletes currently competing in the National School Games at the Singapore Basketball Centre a pleasant surprise as she entered the arena and stopped to take photos with the youth athletes and also gave them words of encouragement. As she came prepared in classic AJ1 basketball shoes, she even took to the court and took a shot, much to the delight of the athletes and their supporters. For ticketing information to the Fundraising Dinner, email info@bas.org.sg with your questions.
Starlight International Youth Basketball Open (SIYBO) 2026 Returns to Showcase the Next Generation of Basketball Talent
Singapore – Singapore-based Touchdown Sports Pte Ltd is proud to announce the return of the Starlight International Youth Basketball Open (SIYBO) 2026, supported by Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS) which will take place from 13 to 17 August 2026 across two premier sporting venues: ActiveSG Bukit Canberra Sport Hall and ActiveSG Clementi Sport Hall. Recognised as one of the region’s leading youth basketball tournaments, SIYBO 2026 will bring together talented young athletes from Singapore and around the world for five days of high-level competition, cultural exchange, and unforgettable experiences. Since its inception, SIYBO has grown into a platform that not only promotes basketball excellence but also fosters friendship and mutual understanding among youth through sport. The tournament embodies the values of teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, and international camaraderie, providing participants with the opportunity to compete against top teams while building connections that extend beyond the court. “SIYBO is more than a competition—it is a celebration of youth, passion, and the unifying power of basketball,” said Mr Adam Chen, Founder of SIYBO. “We are excited to welcome teams from across the region and beyond to Singapore and provide a world-class tournament experience that inspires the next generation of athletes.” A Premier International Youth Basketball Experience Participants at SIYBO 2026 can look forward to: Competitive boys’ and girls’ divisions across multiple age groups(U10 Mixed, U11 Mixed, U12 Boys/ Girls U13 Boys/Girls, U14 Boys/ Girls, U15 Boys/ Girls) ; High-quality game operations and officiating; Opportunities to compete against international teams; Individual and team awards recognising excellence and sportsmanship; Cultural exchange and friendship-building among participating teams; and An exciting basketball experience in one of Asia’s leading sporting destinations. Hosted at ActiveSG Bukit Canberra Sport Hall and ActiveSG Clementi Sport Hall, SIYBO 2026 is expected to welcome teams, coaches, families, and supporters from across the Asia-Pacific region, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a hub for international youth sporting events. Beyond the pursuit of championships, SIYBO continues to serve as a platform for young athletes to challenge themselves, develop character, and create lifelong memories through the game of basketball. Further information regarding competition categories, tournament schedules, registration details, and participating teams can be found on the official tournament website. About Starlight International Youth Basketball Open (SIYBO) The Starlight International Youth Basketball Open (SIYBO) is the flagship international youth basketball tournament organised by the Singapore-based Touchdown Sports Pte Ltd. Dedicated to developing the next generation of basketball talent, SIYBO provides a platform for youth athletes to compete at an international level while promoting excellence, sportsmanship, and cultural exchange through sport.
BAS introduces Task Force members to stakeholders
Newly-elected BAS board introduce Task Force to association members and other key stakeholders during CNY celebrations BAS Board members meet up with contingent from FIBA Asia Board visiting Singapore to attend fifth board meeting for the 2023-27 cycle. 27th Feb, 2026 The newly-elected BAS board gathered the wider basketball fraternity in Singapore last Friday for the first time since the elections held in January in a very different environment. Celebrating the Year of the Horse, BAS hosted leaders of the various member clubs, along with industry partners at key sponsor, K-Star’s venue in Plaza Singapura for a lo-hei and mingling session. While ushering the new year and new beginnings, the achievements of the previous year were lauded, with tokens of appreciations being presented to the coaches and team managers for the last year’s SEA Games squads. In addition, the SEA Games silver medalists from the men’s 3×3 team were presented with monetary rewards approved by the Board. The athletes were not able to be present to receive the award as they were competing in the 3×3 Basketball Thailand International League 2026. In looking forward to a successful year ahead, key sponsors: KSTAR Entertainment Pte Ltd, Ocean Curry Fish Head Restaurant and SIG Group, were recognized for their active support and generous sponsorship, helping to increase the vibrancy of local basketball. The new Task Force assembled by the Board is also expected provide valued contributions in the year ahead. Members of the Task Force were introduced to the club leadership and sponsors, and presented with certificates of appointment. The Task Force–led by selected Board members, key Secretariat representatives and external advisors appointed on a need basis–will table recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval, and help to oversee the execution of approved programmes to ensure transparency and accountability. The Task Force is fortunate to be guided not only by the collective experience of the appointed members, but also insights and inspiration drawn from recent meet-ups with members of the FIBA Asia Board, who were in Singapore for the fifth meeting of FIBA Asia’s 2023-2027 cycle. The recommendations made by FIBA senior executives cover areas such as improvements in technical competencies, coaching as well as increased access to competitions—particularly important for youth development. The current U23s will play a critical role in the success of Team Singapore in the upcoming editions of the SEA Games, leading up to SEA Games 2029 which will be hosted in Singapore. As such, initiatives to assemble and nurture a U23 national team will be one of the top priorities for the task force, along with efforts to improve the standard of coaching, officiating and tournament administration.
BAS Board members meet with contingent from FIBA Asia Board
BAS Board members meet up with contingent from FIBA Asia Board visiting Singapore to attend fifth board meeting for the 2023-27 cycle. BAS Board members meet up with contingent from FIBA Asia Board visiting Singapore to attend fifth board meeting for the 2023-27 cycle. 9th Feb, 2026 Just days after the appointment of a new president and other key appointment holders following elections held in mid-January, the rejuvenated board jumped quickly into action, catalysed by the serendipitous convening of FIBA Asia fifth board meeting for its current cycle in in Singapore. While Singapore does not have representation on the FIBA Asia Board, this was nonetheless a great opportunity for members of the BAS board and secretariat team to have face-to-face discussions with key figures in FIBA Asia, who took time outside of their hectic meeting schedules to share upcoming focus areas and provide guidance for the BAS team. For BAS President Mr Seah Liang Bing, it was an opportunity to catch up with several old friends and play host to them during their stay here. Mr Seah introduced his team to FIBA Executive Director of Asia, Mr Hagop Khajirian, over morning coffee at the Amara Hotel, where the board meeting was to be held the following day. (see photos below) After briefly reminiscing about past visits to Singapore, Mr Khajirian discussed recent FIBA initiatives and shared his vision on how BAS could play an active role and increase Singapore’s profile in the world of international basketball. He encouraged the BAS team to look into improving the quality of tournaments organized here and expanding the local leagues. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that ample opportunities for women to participate and be part of the wider sports ecosystem, a principle which FIBA abides by. While Mr Khajirian acknowledged the recent advances Singapore made in expanding technical capabilities through a growing pool of qualified game officials (referees, statisticians) licensed for international competitions, he emphasized that more needed to be done to develop and enable players to reach greater heights and to compete at an international level. He shared insights on structural programmes and resources within FIBA that national federations can tap on. Through this session, further informal meetings were then facilitated to kickstart conversations between the BAS team and the relevant subject matter experts in FIBA on specific topics such as coaching and youth development. By the evening of the 9th of February, more delegates had arrived in Singapore ready for the board meeting to be held on the 10th, including current FIBA President, Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, and FIBA Asia President, Dr Kempareddy Govindaraj, who graced the BAS team with their presence at a dinner hosted by BAS President Mr Seah. The informal dinner setting enabled the conversation to flow freely between FIBA Board members and the BAS board and subcommittee members in attendance, who benefited from the generous sharing on the experience of the different national federations. Also present was, Zoran Radovic, current Senior Director of the FIBA Management team, who is no stranger to Singapore basketball. Having visited visited Singapore in 2004 and in 2014 to observe the local basketball scene then, Mr Radovic urged newly-appointed head of the Selection and development sub-committee, Mr Muzaffar Shaikh, to better leverage existing resources within Singapore even before looking outwards. Mr Radovic pointed out the notable advances made then and attributed it to greater integration with the international community then. He postulated that due to the globalised nature of our economy, Singapore would inherently have a diverse talent pool that could be tapped into to help bring fresh energy to the local sports ecosystem. Through further discussion, Mr Radovic also corroborated the importance of ideas that had already been brought up for discussion during the first meeting of the new BAS Board. These ideas include taking steps towards developing a systematic player registration process for the purposes of talent identification and development, as well as initiatives and guidelines for clubs and academies to ensure that these organizations are actively striving to provide an environment within which players can thrive and reach their potential. These foundational activities will then enable Singapore better make use of FIBA’s Management & Administration Platform (FIBA MAP) and become better connected with basketball activities at a global level on different fronts. This well-timed visit from leaders and representatives of FIBA Asia has turned out to be highly productive for the new Board, who are now imbibed with new knowledge and inspiration, as they set out to take on the challenges facing local basketball.
